Diagnosing printer malfunction from malfunction-related input

Abstract

A malfunction diagnosis system of a printer is provided. A printer controller receives malfunction-related input by the user from an input device, which user input specifies a print defect perceptible to the user. It generates image data representing a test print job in response to the user input specifying the perceptible print defect, and forwards the test print job image data to the printing unit to produce a corresponding test printout. Measurement data output from a sensing device as measured on the test printout is received and analyzed, and information indicative of a cause for the print defect based on the analyzed measurement data output from the sensing device is output.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A printer with a malfunction-diagnosis system, the printer comprising
 a printing unit arranged to produce a printout from image-representing data, 
 an input device arranged to receive printer-operation-related input from a user, 
 an output device arranged to provide printer-operation-related information for the user, 
 a printer controller arranged to control operation of the printer in response to input commands by the user from the input device and to forward the image-representing data to the printing unit and to output the printer-operation-related information for the user at the output device, and 
 at least one sensing device arranged to perform measurements on the printout produced by the printing unit and to output corresponding measurement data to the printer controller, 
 wherein the printer controller further is configured to 
 initialize a malfunction diagnosis by receiving an indication of a user perceived print quality defect from the input device, 
 generate image data representing a test print job in response to the received indication of the user perceived print quality defect, and to forward the test print job image data to the printing unit to produce a corresponding test printout, 
 receive and analyze the measurement data output from the sensing device as measured on the test printout, and 
 output information indicative of a cause for the print defect based on an analysis of the measurement data output from the sensing device. 
 
     
     
       2. The printer of  claim 1 , wherein the printer controller further is configured for correcting the print defect in an iterative process in which generating the image data representing the test print job, producing a corresponding test printout, and receiving and analyzing the measurement data output from the sensing device as measured from the test printout are repeated. 
     
     
       3. The printer of  claim 2 , wherein the printer controller is configured for correcting the print defect in an iterative process, which includes applying a correction either to printer or printer operation on the input device, by the user, based on the output information indicative of a cause for the print defect. 
     
     
       4. The printer of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing device is an inline scanner. 
     
     
       5. The printer of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing device is a spectrometer. 
     
     
       6. The printer of  claim 1 , wherein the printer controller is configured to analyze the measurement data output from the sensing device as measured on the test printout on at least one of a per-page basis and on a global basis including a number of test printouts. 
     
     
       7. The printer of  claim 2 , wherein the printer controller is configured to analyze the measurement data output from the sensing device as measured on the test printout on a per-page basis, and on a global basis including a number of test printouts. 
     
     
       8. The printer of  claim 3 , wherein the printer controller is configured to analyze the measurement data output from the sensing device as measured on the test printout on a per-page basis. 
     
     
       9. The printer of  claim 8 , wherein the printer controller further is configured to analyze the measurement data output from the sensing device as measured on the test printout on a global basis including a number of test printouts. 
     
     
       10. The printer of  claim 1 , wherein the printer controller is configured to generate the test print job image data in response to the user input, specifying the perceptible print defect, such that a class of one or more test print job image data is associated with a specific malfunction-related input by the user. 
     
     
       11. The printer of  claim 10 , wherein the test print job data are modified with regard to the specific malfunction-related input by the user, with which the class of test print job image data is associated, so that the analysis of the measurement data output from the sensing device as measured on the test printout is improved. 
     
     
       12. The printer of  claim 2 , wherein the test print job data are modified with regard to the specific malfunction-related input by the user with which the class of test print job image data is associated so that the analysis of the measurement data output from the sensing device as measured on the test printout is improved, and wherein the printer controller is configured to modify the test print job representing image data during the iterative process. 
     
     
       13. A method of malfunction-diagnosis in a printer comprising
 a printing unit arranged to produce a printout from image-representing data, 
 a user input device arranged to receive printer-operation-related input from a user, 
 an output device arranged to provide printer-operation-related information for the user, 
 a printer controller arranged to control operation of the printer in response to input commands by the user from the input device and to forward the image-representing data to the printing unit and to output the printer-operation-related information for the user at the output device, and 
 at least one sensing device arranged to perform measurements on the printout produced by the printing unit and to output corresponding measurement data to the printer controller, 
 wherein the method comprises 
 initializing a malfunction diagnosis by receiving, from a user via the user input device, an indication of a user perceived print quality defect and a classification of the user perceived print quality defect, 
 generating, by the printer controller, image data representing a test print job in response to the received indication of the user perceived print quality defect, and forwarding the test print job image data to the printing unit to produce a corresponding test printout, 
 receiving and analyzing, by the printer controller, the measurement data output from the sensing device as measured on the test printout, and 
 outputting information indicative of a cause for the print defect based on an analysis of the measurement data output from the sensing device. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , comprising correcting the print defect in an iterative process in which generating the image data representing the test print job, producing a corresponding test printout, and receiving and analyzing the measurement data output from the sensing device as measured from the test printout are repeated. 
     
     
       15. The printer of  claim 10 , in which the class is identified by a user. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising classifying the print defect according to sensitivities of the user. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising guiding the user in classifying the print defect. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising correcting the print defect in an iterative process, which includes applying a correction either to printer or printer operation on the input device, by the user, based on the output information indicative of a cause for the print defect. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising determining from a user, whether the print defect has been corrected. 
     
     
       20. A method of malfunction-diagnosis in a printer comprising
 initializing a malfunction diagnosis by receiving, from a user via a user input device, an indication of a user perceived print quality defect, 
 guiding the user in classifying the user perceived print quality defect, 
 receiving from a user input device, a classification of the user perceived print quality defect, 
 generating, by the printer controller, image data representing a dedicated test print job in response to the received indication of the user perceived print quality defect and the received classification of the user perceived print quality defect, and forwarding the test print job image data to the printing unit to produce a corresponding test printout, 
 receiving and analyzing, by the printer controller, the measurement data output from the sensing device as measured on the test printout, 
 outputting information indicative of a cause for the print defect based on an analysis of the measurement data output from the sensing device, and 
 receiving an indication that the user perceived print quality defect has been corrected.